Week 3 fantasy starts hinge on injury updates and high-volume targets. Jauan Jennings’ ankle status could push Ricky Pearsall into a larger role, while Tetairoa McMillan continues as Carolina’s top target with a robust Week 2 workload. Jaylen Warren’s pass-game involvement points to solid RB2 production, and DK Metcalf is a buy-low candidate with tangible upside as Pittsburgh filters in more passes. The piece highlights the Who Should I Start tool to optimize four-player comparisons and unlock precise, matchup-driven decisions for Week 3.

Expect a mix of floor versus ceiling in Week 3: McMillan and Pearsall offer reliable targets, Jennings’ status dictates Cardinals-upside, and Metcalf represents a pivotal buy-low anchor as the Steelers chase offensive consistency. The analysis threads through each listed player—Jennings, Moore, McMillan, Dobbins, Warren, Pearsall, Smith, Swift, Meyers, Metcalf—clarifying who should start, who could disappoint, and where upside hides in Week 3 matchups.

Week 3 brings Seattle as 7.5-point favorites at home against New Orleans, but injuries to Devon Witherspoon and Nick Emmanwori could blunt Seattle’s secondary edge. Spencer Rattler and the Saints offense have found traction, and the SportsLine model assigns a 38% upset chance for New Orleans—a surprisingly credible figure for a road test. The model’s Week 3 survivor pick diverges from Seattle, suggesting a one-score outcome with Seattle at about 62% win probability.

The slate features seven 5+ point spreads, including Dolphins-Bills, Packers-Browns, Falcons-Panthers, Jets-Bucs, Saints-Seahawks, Chiefs-Giants, and Lions-Ravens, underscoring how survivor players will chase value. The model touts a long, earned track record (10,000 simulations, 37-17 on top picks since 2024) and is the guiding beacon for those locking Week 3 picks, with promos noted for new users.

Marvin Harrison Jr. has just 11 targets through two games for Arizona, catching 2 for 27 in the latest winless struggle against Carolina after a 6-catch, 71-yard TD opener vs New Orleans. Kyler Murray nudges expectations with a candid take on target distribution—some days 10 looks, other days three, and that one football is shared by a lot. Harrison sits amid a rookie WR class with more early volume, while Arizona faces a Week 3 test as a 2.5-point underdog to San Francisco, making rest-of-season fantasy math intriguing and fluid.

Kyler Murray apologized after posting a photo of him wearing a retro Virginia Tech Michael Vick jersey with one of his bulldogs, saying he admired Vick but does not condone dogfighting and pulled the post after blowback. He stressed his bulldogs Swoosh and Trunks are treated like kings and expressed empathy for those offended. With a big game looming, the public optics moment is noted by fantasy managers as a potential distraction but unlikely to alter his role or fantasy ceiling.

Pittsburgh’s first injury report of the week highlights eight players, with rookie Derrick Harmon returning to practice in a limited role and potentially easing a front that’s looked vulnerable early. His reintroduction could lift the defense as it faces New England, though workload will be tapered as he ramps up.

T.J. Watt and Darius Slay Jr. took veteran rest days, Highsmith is ruled out for the Patriots game, and Porter Jr. and Elliott are listed as questionable. Patrick Queen practiced fully, while Scharping was limited. Harmon’s return, combined with the uncertain statuses of key defenders, shapes Pittsburgh’s game plan and fantasy outlook against New England.

The note on Highsmith’s ankle and the team’s decision not to IR him offer a glimmer of optimism for a quicker-than-expected return. Context of earlier battles with Jets and Seahawks adds texture for evaluators tracking how Pittsburgh adjusts its front seven in this matchup.